12/13/2023 Newsletter

Greetings from the Wine Cellar:
Busy times here in Historic Downtown Yuma with the Dorthy Young Memorial Christmas Electric Light Parade last Saturday and many people doing some Christmas shopping. Can you believe it is only 12 more days to Christmas? If you haven’t completed your shopping yet, be sure to come by the Old Town Wine Cellar to pick up that special gift. If you are not sure what kind of wine to choose as a gift, we can make some recommendations. We also have Gift Certificates available and for that wine connoisseur in your life we have a selection of Coravin Wine Systems and accessories to choose from. While you are here, be sure to try our Featured Wines this week. We have a very nice line up for your enjoyment.

With New Years right around the corner, now is the time to get stocked up on some bubbly. We have a very nice selection here at the Wine Cellar, including the recently added Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne Yellow Label. We also have some new arrivals coming this week, so stay tuned.

On a final note, I wanted to let everyone know that the Old Town Wine Cellar will be staying open later on Saturday December 23rd so everyone has an opportunity to pick up some wines for those last-minute gifts or just to enjoy with your Holiday meals. We will be closed the day after Christmas, Tuesday December 26th but will be back to regular hours Wednesday December 27th and look forward to seeing everyone and hearing about your Christmas celebrations.

FEATURED WINES THIS WEEK

DeLille Cellars 2021 Chaleur Blanc (Columbia Valley, Washington) $29.99

This Chaleur Blanc showcases Sauvignon Blanc in its youth, presenting a beautiful pale-yellow color with hints of green and aromas of golden hay, grapefruit, and a whisper of tropical fruit. Six months of aging in French oak contributes alluring aromas of forest floor, chocolate mint and savory baked brioche. Fresh white peach fruit flavors combine with thyme on the palate, with a wonderful round presence from the cooperage.
($12 by the glass)

Trivento 2019 Golden Reserve Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina) $22.99

Fresh and fragrant nose of lavender, balsamic, plums, thyme, black pepper, and sweet black cherries. It’s full-bodied with round, ripe tannins and a creamy texture. Seamless and caressing with a long, polished finish. Smart and delicious.
($10 by the glass)

Marques de Riscal 2019 Rioja Reserva (Rioja, Spain) $24.99

Intense black-cherry color with good depth of color and hardly any signs of evolution. Very expressive aromas on the nose with notes of licorice, cinnamon and black pepper, with just a subtle hint of the long cask-ageing, thanks to its great complexity and ripe, concentrated fruit. Fresh and easy to drink on the palate, good backbone and lovely, polished tannins. The long, persistent finish leaves gentle balsamic reminders of the finest quality. This wine goes well with ham, mild cheeses, casseroles which are not highly spiced, bean and pulse dishes, poultry, red meat, grills and roasts.
($10 by the glass)

Josh Cellars 2021 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles, California) $22.99

This wine comes from central California’s Paso Robles region, where cool morning fog and intense midday sun result in richly textured and well-balanced wines. Aromas of red fruits are backed by powerful scents of black peppercorn. On the palate, the wine features flavors of raspberry, coffee, and vanilla. Bold tannins lead to a long, smooth finish. Pair this wine with a charcuterie board, lamb chops, or a chocolate mousse with berry coulis.
($10 by the glass)

DAOU 2021 Bodyguard Red Blend (Paso Robles, California) $36.99

The 2021 Bodyguard is bold and brooding displaying a dark purple hue. Aromas of ripe black and blue fruits, berry jam, tobacco and maple syrup reveal trailing scents of pepper, campfire and chocolate-covered red fruit. The palate entry is big and broad, displaying rich flavors of freshly crushed berries, cured meat and spice. Concentrated dark fruit flavors extend into a sleek, lengthy finish. Great pairing with hearty meat dishes such as grilled steak or lamb chops. If you’re looking for a vegetarian option, try pairing it with roasted vegetables like eggplant or mushrooms.
($12 by the glass)

CORAVIN® BY THE GLASS OPTIONS

Orin Swift 2021 Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, California) $175.99/Bottle

An almost-black, opaque garnet core sits in the glass with slow-moving tears falling down the sides. Immediate aromatic notes of ripe cassis, charred ribeye, sandalwood and freshly cut oak pilfer. The first sip is a complex, layered conundrum of blackberry, black plum, fennel, licorice and dark chocolate. More sips peel back the layers to reveal a rich and balanced wine with a deep cassis core. A sweet linger on the finish closes the wine with softly textured chalky tannins.
($35 per glass)

BV 2019 Georges de Latour Private Reserve (Napa Valley, California) $155.99/Bottle

Wow! The aromas to this are really exceptional, with a tangerine edge to the blackcurrants, graphite, lead pencil, flowers and wet earth. It changes all the time. So expressive and refined. Full-bodied with great intensity and depth of fruit. The ultra-fine tannins display millions of layers. The texture on the palate is superb and lasts for minutes. This is the new 1974 George de Latour, which was a legend. Real Napa Valley red here. Drinkable now, to understand it, but truly great in five to six years and onwards.
($35 per glass)

Nickel & Nickel 2019 Dogleg Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, California) $115.99/Bottle

An elegant, open-knit version, with bitter plum and cherry notes lined with light bergamot and red tea hints. There’s a dash of cedar through the finish.
($25 per glass)

Pahlmeyer 2020 Jayson Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, California) $99.99/Bottle

Effusive aromas of blackberry pie, cassis, and leather greet the nose, foretelling the full, expressive palate. Intense notes of blackberry and plum interweave with flecks of pink peppercorn and plowed earth, amplified by a lift of fresh acidity. Full-bodied with silky tannins seamlessly melded with the rich fruit, driving to a plush, juicy finish. Nicely concentrated, without being overblown.
($22 per glass)

DAOU Reserve 2020 Seventeen Forty (Paso Robles, California) $75.99/Bottle

Inspired by the classics of Saint-Émilion, DAOU Reserve Seventeen Forty is a Cabernet Franc driven wine with a harmonious complement of Merlot. Beguiling aromas of blackberry cobbler, raspberry, crème de cassis and cherry pipe tobacco anticipate hints of toasty oak, black licorice and pencil shaving. Lush and full bodied, this wine has rich flavors of cherry, black plum, dark chocolate and blueberry compote with lovely accents of graphite and cinnamon. Solid structure and fine-grained tannins support a lengthy, focused finish, leaving notes of plum and boysenberry underscored by cocoa and black truffle.
($20 per glass)

Zenato 2017 Amarone Classico (Veneto, Italy) $74.99/Bottle

Dense and concentrated, yet still beautifully balanced and well-integrated, this is classic Amarone. Lush aromas of plums, dates and toasted oak greet the nose. It’s rich and full on the palate with layers of ripe, raisiny fruit and super-silky tannins to give it grip on the lengthy finish. A truly elegant, stylish wine.
($15 per glass)

NEW ARRIVALS

Double Diamond 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville, California) $95.99

In the glass, the wine displays a nearly opaque ruby-purple hue. Aromas of framboise, nutmeg, toasted cedar bark, plum reduction, and pennyroyal mint. The palate is marked by mouth-watering notes such as blackberry compote, dark chocolate shavings, cassis, oolong tea, flint, and lavender. A long floral finish, which lasts for up to a minute. With a pleasing acidity and fine tannic framework, this wine is very enjoyable today and should develop gracefully in the cellar for years to come.

Department 66 Others 2017 (Maury, France) $23.99

Striking a seemingly perfect balance between plushness and precision, the vibrantly crimson colored 2016 perfumes with cherry cola and fresh flowers while buttressed with brambly garrigue notes and characteristic flinty minerality. Straightforward and compact, the wine opens with bright raspberry and rhubarb and then reveals more nuanced hints of confectioner’s chocolate, schist, and dried herbs. Ever-present, is a satisfying vein of acidity that perfectly supports the wine’s complexity. Grenache, Carignan, Syrah and Mourvedre.

Harland Brewing Co. Blackberry Cobbler Sour (San Diego, California) $5.99

This sour ale was brewed with blackberry and then conditioned on Vanuatu vanilla bean, graham cracker and more blackberry, resulting in a tasty treat that will remind you of fresh holiday cobbler.

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Kim Maloney
Old Town Wine Cellar
265 S. Main Street, Suite E
Yuma, Arizona 85364
928-373-0405